Dutch Seismologist Warns of Potential Major Earthquake in the Region Due to Gaza Bombardment
In the midst of the escalating conflict and relentless bombardment in Gaza, Dutch seismologist Frank Hogervets issued a stark warning on Tuesday. He cautioned that the quantity of explosives unleashed by Israel on Gaza since the outbreak of the war on October 7th could potentially lead to a significant earthquake in the region.
Dutch Seismologist Frank Hoogerbeets-Source: X
Hogervets, a renowned figure in the field of geology, took to his social media platform, formerly Twitter and now “X,” to make this claim. He stated, “The world must compel Israel to cease this madness. Regardless of the genocide against Palestinians, this bombardment will ultimately have a substantial seismic impact on the area and could accelerate the occurrence of a major earthquake along the Dead Sea.”
The world should force Israel to stop this insanity. Apart from the #genocide against #Palestinians, this bombing will eventually have a great seismic effect on the region and accelerate major earthquake occurrence along the Dead Sea transform. Human stupidity. https://t.co/YBtBUup4WQ
— Frank Hoogerbeets (@hogrbe) November 5, 2023
However, Dr. Ahmed Mahmoudi, a professor of applied geophysics at the Department of Geology at Mansoura University, dismissed the notion that these bomb attacks could trigger a significant earthquake. He emphasized that earthquakes result from the movement of tectonic plates, releasing stored energy deep within the Earth’s crust over thousands of years. Conventional explosive weapons, including those used in this conflict, do not affect the Earth’s interior or tectonic plate movements.
Dr. Mahmoudi clarified that the impact of Israeli bombs would be limited to surface soil and buildings, with the potential for some local ground disturbances, but the occurrence of a major earthquake due to this bombing is highly improbable.
Recent reports from the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights indicated that Israel has dropped over 25,000 tons of explosives on Gaza during its ongoing, wide-scale war since October 7th. This amount roughly equals the explosive power of two nuclear bombs.
Israel has now dropped over 25,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since the start of its war on 7 October.
For comparison, the United States dropped an estimated 15,000 tons of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. https://t.co/S7nJT42iCz
— Scientists for Global Responsibility (@ResponsibleSci) November 7, 2023
It is important to note that the nuclear bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II in August 1945 weighed around 15,000 tons of explosives. However, with advancements in bomb technology, the quantity of explosives used in the Gaza bombardment surpasses that of Hiroshima. Additionally, Israel employs a mixture known as “RDX” (Research Department Explosive), often referred to as “the complete explosive science,” with an explosive power equivalent to 1.34 times that of TNT.
This situation underscores the extraordinary destructive force of the explosives raining down on Gaza, far surpassing the bombs dropped on Hiroshima, and the challenges of dealing with such intense violence in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
In the latest update, the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory revealed that Israel is using massive bombs, some weighing between 150 and 1,000 kilograms, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant confirming the dropping of over 10,000 bombs on the city of Gaza alone, which covers an area of just 56 square kilometers.
The situation remains dire in Gaza, as international calls for an immediate ceasefire intensify to prevent further civilian casualties and destruction.
